Diagnostic test device for motor vehicles which comprises a portable testing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A diagnostic test system having a portable testing device for motor vehicles, controllers having an on-board diagnostic device being provided which control and monitor the engine control system and other systems of the vehicle, generate and store error codes, and which can be connected to an external testing device via a motor vehicle-side diagnosis/test plug. The external portable testing device is equipped with a modem and connected to a mobile telephone, a hand-held cell phone in particular, in order to perform error diagnosis and troubleshooting in such an interconnected network outside stationary repair shops.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Diagnostic test systems for motor vehicles containing controllers aregenerally known. Such controllers may contain on-board diagnostic means.They control and monitor the engine control system and other systems ofthe motor vehicle. In on-board diagnosis, error codes are generated andsubsequently stored. These controllers and the error code memory can beconnected to an external diagnostic tester via a motor vehicle-sidediagnosis/test plug.

German Patent Application No. 44 46 512 describes a system forperforming vehicle tests in which the terminal of the vehicle-sidediagnosis/test plug is not connected to a diagnostic tester located inthe repair shop via a cable, but via a telephone located in the vehicleitself, so that the error diagnosis codes are transmitted via the mobilewireless network to a location in a repair shop which then performs thetest. Thus repair shop stays can be avoided and tests can also beperformed with the vehicle in motion. This known device thus replacesthe normal cable connection between vehicle and diagnostic tester in therepair shop with mobile communication.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The diagnostic test system according to the present invention having aportable testing device for vehicles, has the advantage over the relatedart in that it allows global interconnection of the testing device withthe motor vehicle, making access to private and public networks, forexample, possible. Thus, existing devices can be utilized in a worldwidecombination and used for troubleshooting motor vehicles in the field,which would otherwise not be possible without utilizing theinfrastructure of mobile wireless services.

According to the present invention, this is achieved in principle byequipping the external portable testing device with a modem andconnecting it to a mobile telephone, a hand-held cell phone inparticular, in order to troubleshoot via such an interconnected networkoutside stationary repair shops.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the diagnostic test systemaccording to the present invention, the portable testing device providedwith a modem is located in repair and service vehicles of on-the-roadautomobile clubs, such as ADAC road monitoring vehicles in particular.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The FIGURE shows a testing system in accordance with an exampleembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to the present invention, a portable testing device isequipped with a modem. Thus, a portable testing device can be connectedto a mobile telephone, a cell phone in particular, in thisinterconnected configuration via private or public networks; it can beconnected to a location from which processing of the reported errorcodes and troubleshooting instructions can be expected. This makes itpossible to utilize the existing devices in a combination which ispossible only through the infrastructure of mobile wireless services. Itis advantageous that such portable testing devices having a modem whichare used outside a repair shop are used in services such as, forexample, mobile repair and service vehicles of automobile clubs, such asADAC road monitoring vehicles in particular.

Thus the present invention creates a very flexible option for performingremote diagnoses in the field using simple means, so that help can bepromptly provided for the driver and his vehicle.

What is claimed is:
 1. A diagnostic test system comprising: an externalportable motor vehicle testing device disposed in a mobile repair andservices vehicle, the testing device configured to connect to acontroller in a second motor vehicle via a vehicle-sidediagnosis/testing plug, the controller in the second motor vehiclehaving an on-board diagnostic device and controlling and monitoringsystems of the second motor vehicle and generating and storing errorcodes, the testing device being equipped with a modem and coupled to acellular telephone, the testing device configured to couple to aprocessor via the cellular telephone, the processor performing errordiagnosis and troubleshooting with respect to the second vehicle.
 2. Thediagnostic test system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile repairand services vehicle is an automobile club vehicle.
 3. The diagnostictest system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile repair and servicesvehicle is an ADAC road monitoring vehicle.